Sen. Jay Block

Maddy summarySB 483 proposes to establish the first Tuesday in November as "Election Day" in New Mexico, making it a paid holiday for state and public employees. The bill amends existing law to require employers to provide a full day's pay for voting on Election Day, with exemptions for employees whose schedules conflict with voting hours or who work directly on election administration (like election officials or tribal staff). It also adds "Election Day" to the list of designated legal holidays under state law. Employers who deny voting time would face misdemeanor penalties, including fines of $50-$100. The bill was introduced in 2025 but was postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

Maddy summarySB 402 allows New Mexico public employees who served in the U.S. military to purchase retirement credit for that service. To qualify, they must pay a cost based on their salary and contribution rates, meet minimum service requirements, and cannot purchase more than five years of credit total. The bill also includes specific provisions for civilian prisoners of war and employees from certain organizations (like utilities or libraries) that later become public employers. It aims to help these workers count military or related service toward their pension benefits under the Public Employees Retirement Act.

Maddy summarySB 297 requires New Mexico's Health Care Authority to conduct regional market assessments by July 2026 (and every two years after) to determine average commercial insurance reimbursement rates for covered health services in Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Oklahoma, and Texas. It sets Medicaid reimbursement rates at the higher of either 200% of Medicare rates or the regional average commercial rate for each service. Health care entities receiving increased Medicaid payments must use at least 75% of the revenue increase to boost compensation or hire more staff directly serving patients. This directly affects hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and other licensed health care providers participating in New Mexico's Medicaid program. The bill aims to align Medicaid payments with regional market rates while mandating that increased funding benefit frontline workers.

Maddy summaryHB 275 would establish a 0% flat individual income tax rate for New Mexico residents, effective for tax years beginning January 1, 2026. The bill eliminates the requirement for residents to file personal income tax returns (though filing remains optional), modifying existing tax code sections to remove all tax brackets and filing obligations. It directly affects all New Mexico residents who currently file state income tax returns, including individuals, married couples, and heads of household. The key provision replaces all existing tax brackets with a zero tax rate and removes the mandatory filing requirement under Section 7-2-12. The bill was referred to committees but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 497 removes the $30,000 cap on the tax exemption for armed forces retirement pay in New Mexico. It directly affects military retirees and their surviving spouses by allowing the full amount of their retirement income to be exempt from state income tax, rather than only the first $30,000. The bill amends Section 7-2-5.13 of New Mexico's tax code to eliminate the specified limit, effective for tax years beginning January 1, 2026. This change would provide broader tax relief for military retirees and their families without altering existing eligibility criteria.

Maddy summarySB 298 exempts specific licensed health care practitioners in New Mexico from state income tax on income earned from providing health care services within the state. The bill applies to 9 professions, including chiropractors, dentists, optometrists, physicians, and physical therapists, who must practice full-time in New Mexico. The exemption covers taxable years ending before January 1, 2035 (effectively 2025-2034). It does not create new taxes but removes an existing tax liability for qualifying professionals.

Maddy summaryNew Mexico's Senate Joint Resolution 5 (SJR 5) requests Congress to call a constitutional convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. The resolution seeks to propose amendments that would impose fiscal restraints on federal spending, limit the federal government's power and jurisdiction, and establish term limits for federal officials and members of Congress. This application, formally submitted by New Mexico's legislature, remains active until two-thirds of states apply for the same purpose. The bill directly affects the federal legislative process by initiating a state-level application for constitutional change, though it does not alter current laws or directly impact New Mexico residents.

Maddy summarySB 485 would shorten early voting in New Mexico by reducing the period during which voters can cast ballots before Election Day. The bill requires early voting to start 15 days before an election (down from 28 days) and mandates all locations to close at 7:00 p.m. daily (instead of 9:00 p.m.), reducing daily voting hours from 14 to 12. County clerks would no longer be allowed to adjust hours without written approval from the Secretary of State. This change would directly affect voters relying on early voting access, potentially limiting their opportunities to cast ballots during the shortened window.

Maddy summarySB 459, the "Protection of Women's Sports Act," requires New Mexico public schools, colleges, and athletic clubs to designate teams, sports, and events as male, female, or coed based on biological sex. It prohibits males from competing on teams designated for females (including in competitions, against such teams, or with them), using birth certificate sex as the eligibility standard. The bill allows males to participate only as non-roster practice players without displacing female athletes. Violations can trigger private lawsuits for damages, injunctive relief, or legal fees, and entities failing to comply may lose public funding.

Maddy summaryHB 293 would remove income limits for New Mexico residents claiming an exemption on Social Security income under state tax law. Currently, the exemption is capped at $75,000 for married individuals filing separately, $150,000 for joint filers, and $100,000 for single filers. The bill eliminates these caps, allowing all Social Security income to be exempt from state income tax regardless of total earnings. This change would directly affect higher-income Social Security recipients (e.g., retirees) who currently face partial taxation on their benefits. The amendment applies to tax years beginning January 1, 2025.